Thanksgiving provides a prime opportunity to express gratitude, and research consistently points to the health benefits of gratitude.
Couples who show gratitude to each other report happier relationships and greater closeness. People who maintain gratitude journals are happier, and grateful people may be better equipped to bounce back from trauma. Gratitude may even reduce visits to the doctor.
You do not need the Thanksgiving holiday to express gratitude, but the day can serve as a helpful reminder of the importance of gratefulness.
Loneliness Alters the Immune System to Cause Illness, Study Finds
A number of studies suggest loneliness is bad for physical and mental health, but up until now, researchers have not understood why. New research shows loneliness may change gene expression, triggering inflammation and reducing the activity of genes involved in fighting viruses. This may lead to an increase in susceptibility to illness.
Feds to Require Shelters to Accommodate Transgender Individuals
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted a proposed rule that would require shelters to accommodate transgender individuals’ gender identities. The proposal is a follow-up to the Agency’s 2012 Equal Access Rule for transgender peple who live in public housing. The proposed regulation would allow transgender individuals to use the sleeping and bathing areas of their choice.
Improving Fitness May Combat Brain Atrophy in Older Adults, Study Shows
Exercising with a moderate level of intensity may help delay, and potentially even reverse, brain damage in seniors. Seniors who participated in an activity program saw increased thickness in the brain’s cortex. This outer layer of the brain typically atrophies with Alzheimer’s. In the study, both healthy adults and those with mild cognitive impairment—which often precedes Alzheimer’s—benefited from regular activity.The Psychology Behind Why We Love Black Friday
Black Friday can bring mayhem to shoppers and retail stores, but a few psychological insights can help explain the phenomenon. The combination of competing for bargains and bringing home items to provide for families are, according to this opinion piece, major drivers of the Black Friday rush.
Do Terrorists Share the Same Psychological Traits?
Psychologists have tried to determine what causes terrorism for decades, but as this video explains, terrorism is probably not the result of a single mental health issue or personality trait. Instead, the phenomenon may be the result of interactions between circumstance—such as poverty or living in a war-torn region—and personality traits such as religious fervor.
NYU Study Finds Adults Aged 50-59 Now Largest Age Group in Opioid Treatment Programs
Opioids such as heroin are no longer the domain of young people, according to a New York University study. Instead, researchers found adults ages 50-59 made up almost 36% of participants in opioid treatment programs—up from 8% in 1996. Opioid use has increased among this age group, and older adults may use opioids at higher rates than other groups. However, because the sample size was small and use of treatment is not necessarily an indication of addiction rates, the study’s authors caution that more research is necessary.
© Copyright 2015 GoodTherapy.org. All rights reserved.
The preceding article was solely written by the author named above. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the preceding article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment below.
What Can Gratitude Do for Your Relationship?
Thank Goodness: Gratitude as a Tool for Healing
An Attitude of Gratitude: Seeing the Good Helps You Feel Better
